Stillman Scholarship

Lois Holt Scholarship for Libraries Student Assistants

History

Miss Lois Holt was raised in the northeast and graduated in 1930 from the Douglass College
at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ, with a degree in home economics. She worked
several years in private industry, before she returned to Rutgers as a home economics instructor.

In 1953, Miss Holt followed her father Frank Holt, a lawyer, to Florida. Like her father
Miss Holt invested in the state’s profitable citrus industry and real estate and began amassing
her fortune. In the 1970s, when the Central Florida citrus industry was giving way to development,
Miss Holt cashed in on some of her valuable land holdings, which included parcels in Old
Winter Garden Road, Hiawassee Road, the Lake Mary/I4 interchange, and along US 27 in Clermont.

In 1992, good friend and financial advisor John Stilwell, helped Miss Holt to set up
an education foundation to provide scholarships for Central Florida institutions like the
University of Central Florida, Valencia Community College, University of South Florida and
Miami University. In addition the foundation also gives grants directly to area colleges
as well as her alma mater Rutgers.

John Stilwell, who also served as administrator for the Lois Holt Foundation, described
Miss Holt as “blunt” but “with a kind heart.” She lived a simple, low-key life in Florida
and never married.

Miss Holt passed away in July 1999, at the age of 91, but her legacy through the foundation
that bears her name, continues to help students attain the goal of a college education.

Long-time friends of the University of Central Florida Libraries, Lois Holt and John
Stilwell set up a scholarship for student assistants who work in the Libraries. Beginning
in 1994, the Lois Holt Foundation awarded 12 $2,000 scholarships available only to Libraries
student assistants.

In fall 1993, a group study room was dedicated to Miss Holt. The ceremonies were attended
by Dr. Charles Millican, first president of UCF, and Dr. John Hitt, the newly appointed
president. Dr. W. Rex Brown served as master of ceremonies.

John Stilwell passed away in the spring of 2006. In fall 2006, the Libraries awarded
the last Lois Holt Scholarship.

Thanks to Lois Holt’s generosity over $600,000 has been given to more than 100 students
from half a dozen countries of origin at 12 southeastern colleges, including 11 fortunate
UCF Libraries student assistants. In addition, as of 2004/05, the Holt Foundation contributed
$45,000 to the University of Central Florida Library Enrichment Fund. The University of
Central Florida community is indebted to Lois Holt for her legacy of kindness, generosity,
and respect for academic excellence.

The Lois Holt Scholarship for Library Student Assistants was established at the University
of Central Florida in 1994 through the generosity of the Lois Holt Foundation. Not necessarily
based on financial need, the scholarship in the amount of $2,000 per school year was awarded
in the fall semester to a UCF student working at the University of Central Florida Libraries.
This scholarship was awarded strictly on the basis of the criteria noted below.

Applicants must:

at the time of application, have an overall GPA (for all college
credits) of 3.0 or higher and be a full-time student (twelve (12)
hours or more for undergraduate students, nine (9) hours or more for graduate students).

have worked as a student assistant in the UCF Lbraries for a minimum of
three (3) full (not necessarily consecutive) semesters
. The semester of application may count as the third semester.

be working in the UCF Libraries at the time of application and at the time of receipt
of award.

resume UCF Libraries employment in the fall semester of the award year.

use the scholarship to pursue educational goals at UCF and be registered as a UCF
student at the time of application and at the time of receipt of award

complete the application form. Paper forms available in the Library Administration
Office, LR 512. PDF application forms are also available.

attach the following to the completed application form:

a copy of current transcript (photocopy or official)

three (3) signed and dated letters of recommendation including
addresses and phone numbers of references. Letters should be addressed to
"Selection Committee." Letters must be from people (other than family members
or members of the scholarship selection committee) who have known the candidate
for at least one year. One of the three letters must be from the applicant's
library supervisor or the supervisor's designee.

a 500-word essay discussing professional and educational
goals

a resume or personal statement including Awards & Community
Service, Work History, and Education.